Signal for vehicles



June 17 i924.

F. J. STEMMRICH SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed May '21. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 2A TT ORNEYS.

June 17 1924.

F.'J. STEMMRICH Filed May 21 A 6 Sheets-Sheet '.5

June 17 1924. `l497,8(`)5 F. J. lSTEMMRICH SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed May21. 1921 6 Sheefcs-Sh'eet 4 June 17, 1924.

F. J. STEMMRICH SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed May 2l 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5IIIINIIII -lllll June 17 v1924. 1,497,805

F. J. STEMMRlCH S IGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed May 2l. 1921 `6 Sheets-Sheet6 Jig, J7

Patented .lune 17, 1924.

UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK J. STEMMRICH, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIG-NAL FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed. May 21, 1921. Serial No. 471,471.

T0 all 107mm t may concern.

Be it known thatl, Fnnnnioii J. Sini/rrr- RIGH, a citizen oit the UnitedStates, residing at-East Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Signals tor` Anobject of this invention isto provide a signal of this kind adapted tobe secured to some outside part of the automobile, preterably the windshield, and which may be controlled from the drivers seat.

A further object oit the invention is to provide a signal of this kindhaving a signal arrangedto otl'er `a niinimun'i wind resistance when inraised position and to be substantially invisible topersons atfthel.front and rear ot' the machine, but which may be swung through an arcand at the same time rotated to be conspicuous when at its danger` orwarningposition. y

Further objects areto provide aV signal which shall be illuminated whenin warning position, and` which will give an audible warning to' attractattention when moving to such position, and which device has a inirrorcombined therewith to enable the driver to see what is at the rear ot'his machine.

These and other objects ofthe invention may be seen from the, followingdetail de scription thereof, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the signal, showing it clamped too-ne side ota windshield r support ot a vehicle, and showingfa portion of a steeringpost with a pump for operating the device by Huid pressure, the pumpbeing shown partly in section and. partly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view oi the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,indicating the location of the parts on an automobile;

Fig. is a section on line T11-lll ot Fig. 1;

L1 is ar section on line Fil-1V ot F i0'.

which provides a F ig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line V-V ofFig. 1, showing only the casing in sect-ion, and showing the mechanismin elevation; v

Fig. 6 is a detail view on a small scale ot the indicator or signal; y i

Fig. 7 is a front view of the signal arm operating mechanism with thecasing rcmoved, showing the parts in position yto hold the signal inraised position, with a portion of a supporting member broken away; `i

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when theindicator is in lowered or warning position, and showing the supportingmember broken away; Fig. 9 is a detail view showing in perspective asupporting member used in the device;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a pedestal journal for certain parts ofthe mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a perspective vievvot1 one of the other of the operatingparts;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view ot 'oneo the Huid pressure cylinders whichmay be used;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the pistons used in themechanism` for effecting actuation ot' the parts; Y

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram for the circuits employed with the apparatusshown in the form ofapparatus disclosed` in'Figs'. 1 to Y 11 inclusiveand Fig. 13, where fluid under pressure is used as the operating medium;

Fig. 16 is awiring diagram showing the circuit where the device islelectrically operated;

Figs. 17 and 18 correspond to Figs. 8 and 9 respectively, but showelectric actuating means substituted for fluid pressure means.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1,A represents yone side ofv a support fora .vindshieldl of any standardor preferred construction, and B represents a portion of a steeringwheel post. The signa-l device isA secured to themember A. lt comprisesa clamp 5 adapted tobe attached to the.- member A ha-ving'a roundlaterally projecting 'portion 6. Fitting over `the portion 6 is a splitsleeve 7 which is pedestal is shown in detail in Fig. 10.

Iports,

` Mounted on the plate 11 on suitable supare two fluid pressurecylinders, square in cross section, and curved. rrFhe construction ofthe cylinders is shown in detail in Fig. 13, the main body portionthereof being formed of a sheet metal channel having a` covering platesecured to the top thereof. rlfhus they may be cheaply constructed.Cylinder 17 is somewhat longer than cylinder 18. Fluid under pressure isadmitted to the closed end of cylinder 17 through curved pipe 19, and tocylinder 18 through pipe 20. The opposite ends 17 and 18 of thecylinders 17 and 18 are open;

In cylinder 17 is a piston or plunger 21, such as shown in Fig. 14, theplunger being of a shape which conforms to the shape of the cylinder,and having a slot 21 formed in that end which is toward the open end ofthe cylinder. The piston or plunger' is made of lignum vitae wood,inasmuch as such wood does not require lubrication, and is not affectedto any extent by atmosphericV conditions. A similar piston 22 is placedin cylinder 18. V

Telescoping into the hollow pedestal which forms a bearing therefor is acentral shaft 25 which projects outwardly through a journal in asupporting member 26 which is secured to posts 26a and in which Vis abearing 26?, and through a central opening in the casing 10. Thissupporting member may be stamped from sheet metal and have ribs formedtherein, as shown in Fig. 9. Fixed on this shaft is a radially extendingarm 27, and formed integral therewith is a curved extension 28, thecurvature of the extension corresponding to the curvature of thecylinder 17 into which the extension may be projected, as shown in Fig.8. Fixed` to the under side of member 27, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, isaprojecting member 29 having an angular locking Yface 29. When extension28 is moved, the shaft 25 is rotated a corresponding distance.

A post 30 also extends out from base 16,

and journaled about this post is a rotatable Y curved arm 31 having anouter end portion 32 and a projecting pin 33 thereon. This arm isadapted to normally project into cylinder 18, as shown in Fig. 7, aspring 34 normally urging the arm in this direction, but theintroduction of fluid under pressure into cylinder 18 tends to move thearm to .areas in the drawing.

43 is detachable, and the sheet of celluloid the position shown in Fig.8, the groove in the piston 22 co-acting with the end portion 32 of thearm.

ldhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7 pin 33 engages theinclined locking face 29 on member 29, and a wedging action takes placewhereby the arm 27 is held from rocking downwardly. Vhen arm 31 isrocked to the position shown in Fig. 8, pin 33 is disengaged fromsurface 29 and the arm 27 with member 28 moves downwardly by gravity. Bythe introduc# tion of fluid under pressure into cylinder 17, piston 21then engaging the end of member 28 may be moved to returnthe arm 27 tothe position shown in Fig. 7, where it will again belocled. The closedend of cylinder 17 serves as a stop to prevent'the arm 27 being rockedtoo far backwards when returning to locked position. Support 17 attheend of cylinder 17 serves as a stop for arm 31 on its rearward movement.

Secured to the outer projecting end of shaft 25 is a T-shaped member 35.The casing 10 provided with a felt packing 10a to prevent the entranceof dust and moisture around the portion of the stem of the T-shapedmember which extends through the central opening in the casing. Thecross bar 36 of the member 35 1s hollow Vand extending therethrough andjournaled shape shown, and is offset, so that the shaft is nearer oneVedge thereofl than the other. The edges of the plate 41 are turned overat 42. A frame member 43 carrying a curved sheet of material 44 has itsends extending under portions 42, and a clamping plate 45 of sheet metalholds the frame in place. The sheet of material 44 is preferably made ofcelluloid or similar substance, preferably colored red, and havingnontransparent strips or areas painted thereon, the curved outer endespecially 'being nontransparent, as indicated by the shaded The frame'member is detachable in frame 43, as indicated in 'Fig. 6, so that a newindicatorfmay be substituted at any time, in the eventthat one becomesbroken.

Upon rotation of the shaft 25 through a quarter of a turn, the indicatormay Vbev turned from a vertical to a horizontal position, as shown inFig. 1. As also shown in this figure, the indicator is rotated on shaft37Yin member 36 to automatically feather it, that is, turn it edgewiseto the line of travel of the vehicle when raised, and to present itsflat surface in a vertical plane when shaft 37 is horizontal. thisrotative movement of the indicator, arm 40`"on the lower end of shaft'37 is guided ina stiff wire frame 48 secured to casing 10, as shown inFigs. 1 and 5. The arm acts as a cam, and the wire forms a cam path, andthe wire is so shaped as to cause the arm 40 to be rotated ninetydegrees when shaft 25 rotates asimilar distance. Thus, the combinedmovement of the indicator is obtained upon rotation of shaft 25.

As hereinbefore explained, shaft 25 is rocked to lower the signal bygravity. By reason of the indicator being offset on shaft 37 it is notevenly balanced on its axis of rotation, and the turning of theindicator therefor acts as a counterbalance to prevent the signal fromfalling with 'too much force. In like manner, it acts to assist theupward movement of the signal.

Supported at one side of casing 10 'on a bracket 50 is an electric light51 adapted to project a ybeam onto the' signal when the signal islowered. The rays from this beam which strike the curved non-transparentend ofthe indicator are reflected back onto the central portion thereof.In order that the lighty will be lighted automatically when the signalis ylowered and remain lighted so long as the signal is in warningposition, a switch 52having a stationary and a spring opened contactl issecured to the casing 10 (see Fig. 5.). On thevourved member 28 at aproper position is an inclined cam 53 adapted to press the spring openedcontact down when the signal is in warning position.

For closing a circuit to operate an audible alarm, suchas a horn', onlywhen the signal is 'about or has started to lower,'but which circuitlwill be closed for only a short time, a similar switch 55is secured toplate 11. On the curved arm 31 is a cam 56 for pressing 'th'econtactclosed.` The cam is so positioned that'whenarm 31 is rocked Vrearwardlyby pressure in'cylinder 18, it will engage the spring contact 55a. Vhenthe arm is rocked rearwardly only a slight extent bythe return movementof arm 27, the cam does not close the switch. Inasmuch as arm 31 is inthe rearmost position for Aonly an instant, the horn will give only ashort blast.

For supplying fiuid under pressure to the two cylinders alternately, Ipreferto use a small pump C secured to the steering post B, or to anyotherconvenient 'part of the vehicle. The pump comprises a cylindricalcasing having a bottom 61 in which are 'two' groovesor recesses 62 and63 (see Fig.

For effecting bring the opening therein into register with,

one or the other of grooves 62 and 63;

The piston or plunger is indicated at 69,

and iscarried on a hollowv roundv` rod 7Ux having a square openingtherethrough, so that the rod telescopes over the square rod 67. Fixedto the upper end of rodl 7() is a handle or knob 7,1 and an indicator orpointer 72. By this arrangement, theplunger may be reciprocated, and 'byturningthe knob, disk 66 may be rotated. rIhe indicator 72 serves topoint out the `positiony of the opening in disk 66. If the plunger ispushed downwardly with the opening in the disk over groove 62, air willbe forced out pipe '64, and if the opening in the disk is over groove 63the air is forced out of pipe 65. .Pipe 611 is connected by a hose orflexible pipe 64 with pipe 19 leading intoA cylinder 17, and pipe 65connects ythro-ugh hose or f pipe 65 with pipe 20 leading into' cylinder18.

In operation, assuming the signal or. in-

dicator 44: and its attached parts to be in vertical position, thedriver of the car turnsthe knob 71 to bring the port in disk 66-intoregister with groove 63. By reason 'of pointer 72 he can easilydetermine this. He

then forces the plunger down, forcing air into cylinder 18, moving its'piston 22 toward end 18', rocking arm 31 to move pin 33 to a positionwhere surface 29 on member 29 is disengaged, whereby the indicator fallsto a horizontal position by gravity, at the same time that it rotatesninety degrees by the rotation of shaft 37 through cam 40.

ico

toward the end 17, thereby moving member 28 to rock shaft 25 to. raisethe indicator. IVhen the curved member 28 hat2 been moved a sufficientdistance, the parts will automatically lock to hold them in raisedAposition. A small spring plunger or pin 75 (ieee Fig. 1) in a housing76 may be provided for bearing against the lower end of member 36 forurging the indicator in a direction to be rotated to warning position.Inasmuch as the parts lock tighter whenthey are constantly urged in thisdirection, vibration and rattle will be prevented, and the signal willbe positively moved a. short distance when the locking member isreleased, so

' that there is no likelihood of the signal not moving to warningposition at the proper time.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18, similar parts to thoseusedin the otherV construction are designated by similar referencenumerals. In 4place of cylinders 17 and 18, however, I employ solenoids80 and y81 corresponding thereto. Pivoted at 30 is an arm 82 of brassorother reluctance material, to the ends of which is secured' a curvedsoft iron core 88, the iron corey passing through the solenoid 81 andterminating at points 83. VAt 8st is a locking pin corresponding to pin38. Mounted on a shaft 25 corresponding to shaft 25 heretoforedescribed, is an arm with curved eX- tensions 85, of brass or othernon-magnetic or reluctance material, and secured to the ends of theextensions at 85 is a curved soft iron core 86'which passes throughsolenoid 80. At 87 is a locking member for cooperating with pin 84 andcorresponding with member 29 in the construction previously described.Figs. 11 and 12 indicate how an armature 86 may be readily attached tomember 28, as shown in Fig. 11, so that interchangeable standard partsmay be used.

The operation is in all ways similar to the air operated construction,but in place of a pump on the steering post, a double contact switch isused, the contacts being at 88 and 89 (see Fig. 16). Contact 88, whenclosed, energizes magnet 8O and contact 89, when closed, energizessolenoid 81. The energization of the solenoids through these contactsoperates the parts similarly to the Voperation of the air cylinders. Y

In practice, it is contemplated that the solenoids and the air cylindersbe interchangeable so that' a manufacturer can make either form ofdevice from standard parts.

The device as described has few parts, all

lof which can be cheaply manufactured and the parts can be easilyassembled. Pivoted connecting links and other expensive or diflicultparts to assemble are dispensed with. y

Obviously, various changes and modifications are within the.contemplation of the appended claims, and I do not limit myself to theparticular construction described.

' I claim:

1. A. signal comprising a supporting member, an indicator movablymounted on the Asupporting member, a movable locking means for holdingthe indicator against movement when in normal position, means forreleasing the locking means to allow the indicator to move to warningposition, means for returning the indicator to normal position, andmeans for controlling and releasing an indicator returning means.

2. A signal comprising a supporting member, a rotatable shaft thereon,means for rotating theY shaft, an indicator rotatably carried by theshaft whereby the indicator is swung through an arc upon rotation of theshaft, and means for automatically rotating the indicator relatively tothe shaft upon such movement of the shaft.,y

3. signal comprising a casingadapted to be secured to a vehicle, arotatable shaft on the casing, means for rotating the shaft in oppositedirections through a limited arc, an indicator carried on said shaft,and outside the casing, and rotatable at right angles to said shaft, anarm connected to the indicator, and guiding means onV the casing en-Vgaging the arm for automatically rotating the indicator when theindicator is moved upon rotation of said shaft. 1 Y

1. A signal comprising a casing adapted to be secured to a vehicle, arotatable shaft, an indicator carried by the shaft, a movable means inthe casing for effecting the rotation of the shaft, a movable means forlocking the shaft against movement, and means Vfor successivelyeffecting the operation of both of said movable means to voperate theindicator.

A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft inthecasing, an indicator on theshaft, said indicator having a raised anda lowered position and adapted to be moved 'from raised to loweredposition by gravity, and normally being in the raised position, locking`means for holding the Vindicator againstv movement when it is in therraised position, means for releasing the 1oclring means, and means forreturning the indicator from lowered to raised position.

6. A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft in thecasing, an indicator on the shaft having a raised and a lowered positionand adapted to move from raised to lowered position by gravity,.lockmeans for holding the indicator against movement only when inraised position,

means for effecting the movement of the locking means to release thelocking means, remotely located means for returning the indicator fromlowered to raised position, and means outside the casing and adapted tobelocated at any suitable place on the vehicle for controlling theactuation of the indicator. Y

7. A'signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a rotatablev shaft in thecasing, an indicator carried by the shaft and outside the casing havinga raised and a lowered position, a member on the shaft within thecasing, a movable locking member engaging with said member on the shaftfor holding said indicator from movement from its raised to its loweredposition, automatic means under the control of the operator for movingthe locking member to permit the indicator to move to its loweredposition,

ifiieizss i i5- fautomati'c means for returning` the locking ymember toitsnormal position, and means operable at the will of the operator forreturning the indicator to its raised position.

'8. 'A signal for vehicles comprising a casing,a rotatable shaft in thecasing, an indicator carried by the shaft having a raised yand a loweredposition and adapted to be moved from raised to` lowered position,

`means for locking the indicator against means for returning theindicator from low` ered to raised position, said locking means beingarranged to automatically lock said indicator againstmovement upon saidindicator being returned from lowered to raised position.

10. A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a shaft in the casing, anindicator o-n the shaft having a raised and a lowered positionandadapted to normally remain in the raised position, means for lockingthe indicator from moving to its lowered position when raised, means forreleasing the locking means, means for urging the indicator towardlowered position when raised, and means for inovingkthe indicator fromlowered to raised position.

11. A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a shaft in the casing, anindicator on the shaft outside the casing having a raised and a loweredposition and adapted to normally remain in raised position, means forlocking the indicator from .moving to its lowered position when raised,fluid pressure actuated means for releasing the locking means `to permitthe movement of the indicator to lowered position, and a fluid pressureactuated means for returning the indicator from lowered to raisedposition.

12. A signal for vehicles comprising a` casing, a shaft in the casing,an indicator on the shaft outside the casing having a raised and alowered position and adapted to normally remain in raised position,means for locking the indicator from moving to its lowered position whenraised, fluid pressure actuated means for releasing the locking means topermit the movement of the indicator to lowered position, a uid pressureactuated means for returning the indicator from lowered to raisedposition, and

means adapted to be located at any Asuit'ayblfe place on a vehicle forselectively supplying fiuidiunder pressure to either of said fluidpressi-ire actuated means.

13. A signal for vehicles comprisinga casing, a shaft in the casing, anindicator ron the shaft outside the casing hav-ing a raised and alowered position and adapted to normally remain in raisedpositiommeansfor locking the indicator from moving vto its lowered positionwhenraised, fluid pressure actuatedvmeans for releasing the lockingmeans to permit the movement `of the signal to lowered position, a fluidVpressure actuated means for returning the *indicator from lowered toraised position, and means adapted to be located at any suitable placeon a vehicle for selectivelyy supplying fluid under pressure to eitherof said fluid pressure actuated means, said means includ` two portstherein, and a valve controlled by rotation of the operating handle forcausing either one of the ports to be opened, the compression of thefluid being effected by reciprocation of the handle.

14. A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, a shaft in the casing, anindicator on the shaft outside the casing having a raised and a loweredposition and adapted to normally remain in raised position, means forlocking the indicator from moving to its lowered position when raised,fluid pressure actuated means for releasing the lock-r ing means topermit the movement of the indicator to lowered position, and a fiuidpressure actuated means for returning thev indicator from lowered toraised posit-ion, both of said fluid pressure actuated means includingcylinders having pistons of lignuin vitae wood therein.

15. A signal for vehicles comprising a casing, means whereby it may besecured to a vehicle, a rotatable shaft in the casing, an indicatorenthe shaft and outside the casing, a curved member carried by the shaftinside the casing, a curved cylinder inside the casing having a pistontherein adapted to engage the curved member to rotate the shaft, alocking Amember having means thereon adapted to cooperate with means on`said curved member to hold the sha-ft against rotation, and a fluidpressure cylinder having a piston therein for moving thev locking memberto release it, and

means for returning the locking member to different positions, a lightarranged to il` luminate the indicator and positioned so that the raywill strike said curved end and be ing a pump having an operating handleand n reflected against other portions of the ini dieator, and means forcontrolling the op eration of the indicator.

17. A signal for vehicles Comprising a supporting means, an indicatorhaving a raised and a lowered position, means where- 10 means foreffecting the rotation `oi the ineasing adapted to be secured to avehicle,V

dicator when it is moved from one position to the other, said indicatorbeing unbalanced with respect to the means on which it is rotatablysupported whereby the rotative movement of the indicator Cheeks itsswinging movement in one direction and assists its swinging movement inthe other direction.

18. A signal for vehicles comprising a a rota-tablev shaft carriedthereby, an indieator on the shaft and outside the Ycasing having araised and a lowered position and adapted to be moved to its loweredposition by gravity, a movable looking member for holding the indicatorfrom movementyto its lowered position, means for releasing the lookingmember, a movable means for raising the indicator from lowered to raisedposition, an audible signal, and means movable with the looking meansfor effeeting the operation of the audible signal Vonly Vduring theinstant when said locking

